Acetylene-gas generator.



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ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905` Application filed May 13, 1903. Serial No.156,884.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN R. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene Gas GeneratingSystems; and I do hereby declare that the following' is afull, clear,and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas-generatingapparatus, and has fory its object a system of lighting for theheadlight of locomotives.

-The system consists of a generating apparatus adapted to be installedin the cab of a locomotive for convenience in handling and rechargingthe apparatus and to a burner suitably arranged in the headlightconnected by piping or other suitable means withA the apparatus in thecab.

The apparatus consists of a two-part carbidholder, a water-receptacle,and suitable valvecontrolled sight-feed columns leading from thereceptacle to the carbid-holders, and means for conveying' the gas fromthe carbid-holders to the burner in the headlight.

A further object of the improvement is the simple and practicalapplication of the acetylene-burner to the ordinary oil-burner of aheadlight.

Other objects and aims will more definitely appear from the followingdescription and drawings forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 isan elevation of so much of alocomotive as will show the practicalapplication of my improvements thereto and showing the same thereon.Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the carbid-holder andwater -receptacle Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through thewater-receptacle and one of the carbid-holders. Fig. Lis a plan insection showing the manner of sealing the ends Of the receptacle holdingthe carbidholders. Fig. 5 is a detail in section of the valvecontrolling the sight-feed water-columns. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionshowing the upper end of one form of oil-burner with my acetylene-burnerattached thereto.

In the drawings, 1 indicates one form of locomotive, having the boiler2, the cab 3, and supported at the forward end of the boiler a suitableheadlight 11. These features are shown in outline only to illustrate theapplication of my acetylene system thereon.

Referring to the generating apparatus. 5 indicates acylindrical memberhaving the compartments 6, formed by the partition 7 and the ends of thecylinder sealed by the heads 8, secured in place by the members 9,adapted to lock with the pivotal links 10 upon opposite sides of thecylinder. The members 9 have the nut-formed portions 11, engaged by thethreaded stems 12, adapted to engage the heads 8, as shown, andregulated by the handwheels 13. Gaskets 14 are provided to insure acomplete sealing of the ends of the cylinder, as is apparent.

In each chamber or compartment 6 I carry the removable carbid-holders15, substantially semicircular in form with the side walls 16, and17indicates tubular stems extending up within the holders, having thefunnel-shaped receiving portions 18 and the walls of the tubesperforated at intervals, as at 19. Oarbid is placed in the holders so astonot quite ll the same, and water by means to be described is droppedinto the tubular stems 17 and passing out through the perforations 19saturates the body of the carbid and produces gas in the manner alreadyWell known, and bythe arrangement shown with carbid packed around thestems 17 water attacks the lower portions of the carbid first, whichinsures that all of the carbid will be consumed.

Supported by the member 5 on a stem or post 2O is a water chamber or'receptacle 21, having the head portions 22 and 23, the latter formingthe upper inclosure, which is intended to be removable, and thisinclosure is provided with the water-inlet pipe 23, as shown.

24 indicates gaskets for insuring a complete sealing of the-ends of thereceptacle 21.

25 indicates two sight-feed water-columns connecting the receptacle 21with the compartments 6 of the member 5 and intended to be placed sothat any water passing through the feed-columns 25 will drop into thetubular stems 17 of the carbid-holders, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. At thehead of the columns 25 I arrange a suitable valve, controlled from theoutside of the receptacle 21, to regulate the supply7 of water passingto the carbid-receptacles. These valves consist of the heads 25, adaptedto be screwed into the head 22, with feedingstems 26 extending down intothe columns 25. The heads 25a are provided with the contractedinlet-openings 26a, with the enlarged portion of the opening upon theoutside, and this communicates with the transverse feed 27 and theoppositely-placed threaded openings28,en-

gaged by a threaded valve-stem 29, passing through the wall of thewater-receptacle and having a tapered head 30, adapted when screwedinward to engage and close the opening 26 to shut off the ingress ofwater or when withdrawn to open the same. Upon the outer end of the stem29 is provided the crank or lever 31, by means of which the valve-stems29 may be regulated.

32 indicates a sight-feed column attached to the water-receptacle 2l fordetermining the quantity of water contained in such receptacle.

The uses for the stem or post 2O are twofold. By means of it and theextended bracket 33 the generator may be suitably hung or supported. rIothis stem 20, at its upper end, is secured a feed-pipe 34, passing upthrough the water-receptacle 21, and upon its outer upper end isconnected a T provided with the twoway cock 35 and 35, and connectedwith the feed-pipe 34 is a lateral 36, in turn connected with a T 37,having a three -way valve controlled by the stem 38. The T 37 has twoleads 39 leading to the chambers or compartments 6, and by theconnection just described the gases formed by the carbid will pass upthrough the leads 39 to the feed-pipe 34 and through connections now tobe described to the burner in the headlight.

Referring to the headlight 4, which may be of any suitable construction,the same is provided with an oil-burner 40. These burners may be of anywell-known structure, having the upper perforated shell portions 4l, thewick-cylinder 42, and wick 43, and means, as at 44, for supporting alchimney. (Not shown.) In the application of my apparatus and system itis intended to employ these welllrnown oil-burner fixtures as a supportfor my acetylene-burner and tip for a purpose to be described.

45 indicates a chambered burner by a stern 46 detachably supported inthe wick-cylinder 42, as shown, and 47 indicates a preferred form ofascetylene-burner tip. Leading from the burner 45 is a suitable feedpipe or tube 48, coupled with a main gas-lead 49, which is carried backalongside the boiler 2 of the locomotive in a suitable manner andcoupled with the cock 35 of the generating apparatus. For convenience avalve 5() is attached to the piping48. (Best seenin dottedlines in Fig.l.)

In employing an acetylene system .for locomotive use when such a burneras 45 may be detachably connected or attached to the ordinary oil-burner40 I can provide against accidents. I am not only assured a betterlight, but in case of accidents the burner 45 may be detached, thechimney replaced on the oilburner and the same again used, thusprovidinga sim ple,convenient, and serviceable acetylene-burner withoutrearranging the structurel now commonly used on locomotives for lightingpurposes.

The generating vapparatus is constructed with a view to cheapness,simpleness, and durability. Providing two carbidcompartments l aim toovercome the objection placed on this class of devices for locomotiveuse. It is not intended to use both the carbid-chambers at one time.They are intended to be employed alternately. As soon as one chargeburns out the valve controlling the water-supply to that compartment isshut off' and the opposite side brought into play, when thecarbid-holder, which has become useless, may be removed and filled witha new charge without affecting' the apparatus itself or the light. Thisis a necessary feature in locomotive lighting, as the runs vary and itwould not be convenient to stop long enough to recharge; but by the useof an apparatus as herein the trouble or delay is entirely obviated. Itis intended, as suggested above, to place the apparatus in the cab of anengine within easy reach of the operator., and by the sight-feed columns25 he is enabled to feed water to the carbid in desired quantities. Theprovision of the cock 35r-L when opened shuts off the supply to theburner and almost instantly puts out the light.

I am aware that various changes may be made in the arrangement andconstruction of my apparatus and system, and I do not wish to beconfined to the details thereof or any modifications that may be madethereon which would come within the scope of the invention herein.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-M A In anacetylene-gas generator comprising a generating-chamber of openendedcylindrical form, independently-removable heads inclosing the ends, saidgeneratingchamber being divided into two compartments by a verticalpartition, a fixed stem projecting upwardly from the generating-chamber,a water-compartment supported by said stem, sight-feed columnsconnecting the water-compartment with the carbid-compartments` agas-outlet leading from thegenerating-chamber to and through theconnecting-stem and centrally through the water-compartment.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signatu re in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

ROBERT N. MoOoRMIoK, CHAs. W. LA PORTE.

